Video interviews show how to squirm your way into Cambridge

Share via

The tension is palpable, the fear so real and the questioning merciless. One
prospective student laughs nervously as she attempts to sketch the behaviour
of a mathematical function, another looks heavenwards as he struggles under
a meticulous interrogation on the hereditary nature of DNA.

Both are going through the intensive interview process used by the University
of Cambridge to select applicants and they look resigned to being
intellectually mauled.

The university is, for the first time, releasing videos of its world-famous
interviews in an attempt to debunk myths about the process and encourage
more applicants.

While the videos show that

Subscribe now

Login

Already a subscriber?

To see the full article you need to subscribe

Subscribe

Login

1/2

The university is not looking for the perfect interview but for students 'willing to learn and to persevere'

2014-07-26 00:01:00.0 Getty Images

The university is not looking for the perfect interview but for students 'willing to learn and to persevere'

2014-07-26 00:01:00.0 Getty Images

The videos show interviewees facing questioning that is polite and friendly but deadly